Article

3 Common Problems in Government that A3 Thinking Can Help Solve

I’m always surprised at how little the public sector uses A3 thinking to tackle their toughest challenges. It’s the same thing every time – the…

by Gavin Martin

Article

Why Leadership and "Respect" Are Fundamentally Entwined

Hear the word "respect" and most of us can think of a time we've wanted our boss, team member, or employee to "be more respectful."…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Why We're Thankful For Lean

Thanksgiving is a time of year when Americans take a day to step back and appreciate everything they have to be thankful for. Here at…

by Lean Enterprise Institute and Tracey Richardson

Article

How NOT to Jump to Solutions When Facing A Problem

Dan Markovitz argues that productive leaders solve problems by leveraging a deep understanding of the facts, buffering them from the temptation to jump to solutions.…

by Dan Markovitz

Article

Identifying the Organizational Problem and Opportunity at Community Servings

Lean is first and foremost about learning by doing, so during summer 2012, the LEI team headed to Community Servings (the gemba) to learn its…

by Lex Schroeder

Video

Getting the Right Product Right, and Other Product Development Trends

As a lean product and process development coach John Drogosz, PhD, works closely with companies in a variety of industries that are redesigning development systems…

by John Drogosz, PhD

Article

The Best of The Lean Post 2013: Top Posts

It's time to look back on the best posts of 2013 (as determined by you, Lean Post readers). Which articles did you expect to make…

by Lex Schroeder

Article

The Tipping Point?

Early efforts to apply lean principles to healthcare faltered and for many years the challenge seemed to be too great. It took time and many…

by James (Jim) Womack, PhD

Article

Tap the Power of Flow to Develop Lean Thinkers

Flow is personal--a moment of enrichment, and a mental state. It´s stretching oneself just that little bit extra, not because someone else tells us to,…

by Eivind Reke

Article

Real Respect Feels Like Knowing You've Been Heard

Showing respect by actively listening to others--being present in mind and body, consciously attending to what is said, connecting with the person not just the…

by David Verble

Video

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways – on a Valentine’s Day A3

The question lean practitioners Tracy and Ernie Richardson get more than any other isn’t about problem-solving, takt time, standardization, or their book. It’s about their…

by Ernie Richardson and Tracey Richardson

Article

Why Creating Products Customers Actually Want Requires a Great Process

80% of the cost (and hence, waste) is committed for a new product or service by the time product designs get locked-in during development. Still,…

by Matt Zayko

Article

Freedom

Dear Gemba Coach: I work for a large governmental organization that has decided to do lean. I have been interested in lean for some time, yet…

by Michael Ballé

Article

Let the Work Define the Process

We’re all short on time, but think for a moment with your team about the real work to be done in any process you’re working…

by Eric Ethington

Article

Take Your Product Testing to the Extreme

Many of the principles of lean product and process development can seem counterproductive at first glance. For example, what if someone told you that the…

by Lean Leaper

Article

You Can't Kaizen Chaos

LEI coach Danielle Blais shares why she believes lean thinking means little without practice, explains the importance of stable work processes, and offers guidance on…

by Danielle McGuiness

Article

Looking at 5 Easy Steps to Simplify the A3 Process

Taking on an A3 can be daunting, and Eric Ethington is here to remind you that this is normal but preventable. He has five great…

by Eric Ethington

Article

More than a New Product – A New Way of Thinking

"Successful entrepreneurs, whether they are lone figures toiling in garages or supporting new work at major companies, are rightly celebrated for creating hit products," says…

by James Morgan, PhD

Article

Developing Awareness on the Gemba

Lean Sensei Sandrine Olivencia shares practical advice on ways to be present and to coach in the moment at the gemba

Article

The Trouble with Lean Experts

Dear Gemba Coach: I run a Lean Promotion Office (LPO)  and my team mostly conducts kaizen events across the company. We are usually seen as successful…

by Michael Ballé